North Carolina
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 7s and light WSW winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Nags Head Pier for the cleanest windows.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Nags Head Pier turns Good.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Nags Head Pier, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, Aug 9: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 7s and light WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Aug 10: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 9mph from the SW.
Tue, Aug 11: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate W wind around 10mph.
Wed, Aug 12: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 11mph from the WSW.
Thu, Aug 13: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 8mph WNW winds.
Check Nags Head Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Nags Head Pier is one of the OBX's most historically significant surf spots, with a lineage stretching back decades. The north side produces quicker, bowlier peaks for shortboarders while the south side delivers longer lefts favored by longboarders. NE swells provide the most consistent conditions, with December offering the highest percentage of clean rideable waves. The relaxed atmosphere is more welcoming than some of the more competitive OBX pier breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Nags Head Pier is 0-1ft with a 7s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Nags Head Pier is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.6ft E primary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft SE secondary swell at 6s, a 0.4ft NW tertiary swell at 2s, a 1.7ft ESE wind swell swell at 7s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Nags Head Pier is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 1ft waves, a 4.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Nags Head Pier works best with a NE swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Nags Head Pier. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Nags Head Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Nags Head Pier is one of the OBX's most historically significant surf spots, with a lineage stretching back decades. The north side produces quicker, bowlier peaks for shortboarders while the south side delivers longer lefts favored by longboarders. NE swells provide the most consistent conditions, with December offering the highest percentage of clean rideable waves. The relaxed atmosphere is more welcoming than some of the more competitive OBX pier breaks.
The prime season at Nags Head Pier is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Nags Head Pier include pier pilings, strong currents near pier, occasional jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Nags Head Pier forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
